Reasons and Fixes for Leggy Petunias

12.05.2024 - 17:07 / gardenerspath.com / Kristine Lofgren

Reasons and Fixes for Leggy Petunias

When I was a little baby gardener, trying my hand at growing plants in my mom’s garden, I started out with a cheap little petunia that I found in the bargain bin at a grocery store.

That year and for many years to follow, my petunia plants would grow happily and continue to bloom all summer, but they almost always turned into a leggy mess.

They stopped looking like the bushy, colorful plants we know and love and started to look scraggly and thin midway through the growing season.

I knew they could look beautiful. The ones in the hanging pots lining our Main Street always looked phenomenal. What was I doing wrong?

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Now, gather ‘round, children. Auntie Kristine is going to tell you about a time long, long ago, before the internet was available in your pocket.

Back then I couldn’t just fire up the family computer and do a quick search to figure out the problem. I had to ask around. I checked out books at the library, and I talked to a friendly expert at the local nursery.

That’s how I first learned why these plants become straggly and how to avoid it.

I even learned how to fix the problem if the plant became a leggy mess. Once I learned the way of the petunia, I never had to deal with an ugly, lanky pile of stems ever again.

All these years later, I’ll come across a home with a pot full of leggy flowers, and I want to share the good word. That would be a bit cheeky, so I’ll just share it with you, instead.

While we’re at it, if you need a quick rundown of how to best grow and care for petunias, visit our guide. Then, we’ll dive into growing bushier, happier plants.

Coming